Building on the success of last year’s Big Lunch, this year we are also partnering with the Jo Cox Foundation to bring communities together and celebrate connections and commonality.

Grab your friends, family and picnic rug, this fun-filled free event is one not to be missed.

Pull together a picnic hamper of your favourite treats or wander around the street stalls and sample all the adventurous food and drink they have to offer. With a selection of the world’s best cuisine on show with Eve’s Caribbean Kitchen, Nonno Luigi’s Pizza, Babur Indian and Akindo Japanese plus many more.

If that doesn’t whet your appetite, the line-up for the main stage and selection of roaming street performers to keep you entertained certainly will. From African drummers to stilt walkers, circus style performers and many more, the north park will be home to an exciting array of sights and sounds. The main stage will feature regular performances from musicians as well as world-class dance performances from the renowned Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

It’s not all about watching performances though; we also have a host of activities for you to get involved yourself. Dance workshops will take place throughout the afternoon or why not challenge dad to a race on our 60m athletics track in the fathers race or maybe the egg-and-spoon or sack-races are more your forte. There will also be a range of other have-a-go sports on offer for you to really get your blood pumping.

For the little ones, story-telling will be brought to life in the story-telling tent from Stratford Library and the Discover story centre where interactive story-telling sessions and book corners are sure to get their imagination running wild. A firm family favourite, make sure you visit the free face-painting stand to really get in to the celebratory spirit.

As if that wasn’t enough, the mascots of the upcoming IPC World Para Athletic Championships and IAAF World Athletics Championships, Hero the Hedgehog and Whizbee the Bee, will be on the Park meeting and greeting fans for an exclusive photo opportunity. As the first city to host both events in the same year this is your chance to meet with a piece of history.

Make it a jam-packed Father’s Day and explore the Park on foot beforehand, relive the magic of London 2012 with our trail guide, or pick up a biodiversity trail to discover the stunning collection of plants and wildlife in our beautiful gardens. For a more leisurely approach, why not see the Park from a different perspective and take to the waterways aboard one of our Boat Tours. 

For a real Sunday with a twist take on the Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit. 178 metres of twists, turns and drops will see you hit speeds of up to 15mph in a hair-raising 40 second descent. The perfect climax to an exciting day at the Park you will not want to miss!